Legendary cornerback and kick returner Deion Sanders headlined the 2011 class of inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Star cornerback joined by Faulk and Sharpe at HOF ceremony
Legendary cornerback and kick returner Deion Sanders headlined the 2011 class of inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
'Prime Time' learned that he had been elected into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility earlier in 2011 but was only officially enshrined in Canton on Saturday.
Sanders was known for his fearsome coverage ability and lightning speed, which also made him a major threat on special teams and occasionally on offense.
He started his career with the Atlanta Falcons before moving onto the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins. The two-time Super Bowl-winner also made comeback for the Baltimore Ravens as a 37-year-old in 2004.
"This game taught me how to be a man. This game taught me if I get knocked down, I got to get my butt back up," Sanders said during his induction speech.
"I always had a rule in life that I would never love anything that couldn't love me back. It taught me how to be a man, how to get up, how to live in pain.
Dedication
"Taught me so much about people, timing, focus, dedication, submitting oneself, sacrificing. If your dream ain't bigger than you, there's a problem with your dream."
Former St Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk, an integral part of the famous 'Greatest Show on Turf' offence, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in the earliest possible year.
"This is pretty special. I am glad to be a part of it. This is football heaven," a tearful Faulk said.
Three-time Super Bowl-winning tight end Shannon Sharpe was also inducted at Canton after a career that saw him amass 815 catches for 10,060 yards and 62 touchdowns.
He said: "I am so honoured. You don't know what this means for me. This is the fraternity of all fraternities."
Defensive end Richard Dent, linebacker Chris Hanburger and NFL Films founder Ed Sabol were also inducted, while late Los Angeles Rams star Les Richter was enshrined posthumously.
A lower-than-usual crowd of over 13,000 watched the ceremony after the traditional pre-season game that usually accompanies the inductions was cancelled during the lockout.
